A new favorite has emerged in the battle for the services of Cherry Creek High School quarterback Kain Colter. The Englewood (Col.) signalcaller has offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Northwestern, Kansas State and what would seem to be his new favorite - Stanford.

"My leader is probably Stanford," Colter said. "I like California and it is a great education. The coaches are really cool and down-to-earth people."

Colter will visit Stanford April 2-3 and said a big part of his attraction to Stanford is the school's graduation rates, which rank near the top of NCAA DIvision I football programs nationwide. In addition to the Stanford visit and an Elite 11 camp later this month, Colter will be visiting Cal in May. Colter said he also visited Northwestern last month.

"I was out there (Evanston, Ill.) and it was raining the whole time," he said. "I liked the coaches and it sounds like a great opportunity. I got to meet the players too. The campus was really nice, but different than the west coast."

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Colter owns a 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash, a 240-pound bench press and a max of 350 in the squat. He also features a 3.5 grade-point average. As a sophomore, Colter ran for 463 yards and passed for 2,073 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. After transferring to Cherry Creek last season, he saw those numbers jump to 937 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in 14 games. He also threw for 1,786 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in leading Cherry Creek to the state title game.

His athletic ability has led some colleges to recruit Colter as an athlete, while he is hoping for a shot at quarterback. Stanford told Colter they would let him start his career as a quarterback. Kansas State and Northwestern are also talking quarterback too.

"Stanford said they would let me start at quarterback and give me a chance and that is all I am looking for. I am not dumb though - if that doesn't work out I'll move to a different position where I can get on the field."

Colter, who plans on a pre-med major, said he may try to get to spring practices in Boulder and Fort Collins to check out the in-state Buffs and Rams, although he seemed to think the two schools weren't contacting him as much as Stanford, Cal, Northwestern and Kansas State.

In the meantime, Colter said he is running track and will take his ACT's in April. Colter said has the seventh-best long jump in the state at over 21 feet. He is also running in the 4x100 meter dash and the 110-meter hurdles.